Isanti Soil & Water Conservation District

Our office is now open to the public! We are here to help you Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm.

Staff may not be in the office at all times due to the outdoor nature of our work. Consider calling our office before your visit at 763-689-3271. See the Contact Us page for other ways to contact staff members.

This year, the Isanti Soil & Water Conservation District has two Supervisor positions up for election. SWCD candidates appear on the ballot for the general election which will take place November 8, 2022. Candidates are elected county wide, but must reside in one of the supervisor districts up for election. The supervisor districts and candidates running for election this year include: Dave Medvecky for District 5 and Tom Anderson for District 2.

On August 20th volunteers came together to install a shoreline restoration project and learn how to organize their own! The Shoreline Restoration Workshop took place at Grant and Linda Warning’s property on Blue Lake. Sixteen volunteers joined from a variety of lakes throughout the county! The biggest lesson from the workshop was how simple and quick a shoreline restoration can be especially when you have a group of people able to help you.

The Rum River RIM program has more funds available for landowners interested in placing their land in a permanent conservation easement. The land must be along the Rum River, and in compensation the owner will receive 60% of the land value. More rules apply, click Learn More.

If you are interested and own land along the Rum River please call us!

Kevin Schlipp and his wife have been conservation minded for years. Therefore, when they started learning about cover crops in farmer magazines and from long time practicer Dave Medvecky (part of the Isanti SWCD board), they decided to try them. Kevin has been using cover crops for two years now, and joined the Isanti SWCD Cover Crop Program last year.

Kevin uses a cover crop mix of buckwheat, crimson clover, radish, winter peas, and some soybeans. He chose his mix using the advice of Dave and the NRCS and SWCD staff. When the buckwheat is in bloom the farm is a rolling field of flowers that attracts many bees. However, Kevin’s favorite benefit of the cover crops are not the bumbling bees on his property. Instead, he has noticed “very few weeds breaking out and coming through once the cover crop has been established.” This saves him time, money and chemicals. The weed protection of cover crops encourages Kevin to keep using them, as he says, “If I can get by with using less chemicals that is a motivating factor for me.”

When Kevin was asked why cover crops and conservation was important to him, he responded immediately: “Well, conservation is for all of us.” Cover crops improve soil health and water quality which benefits both the farmer and the environment.